MM: WHO are you?MK: Hello! I’m Madeleine. I’m twenty-one-years-old and I am a photographic artist. Last year I graduated from the Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Photography.

WHAT the hell is your work about?I think my work is often the hell about creating a sense of ambiguity, curiosity, or even absurdity. In my most recent bodies of work, which are two separate series of portraits, none of the sitters in the images are actually identifiable. I like hearing people trying to guess what the images are of, who the portraits are of, whether they think they are all female or male etc. I guess it’s about trying to engage people with their own sense of curiosity, and our instinct to identify or categorize other people.

WHEN did you realise you were in tune with the right side of your brain?I’m not sure I could say when! I suppose when we’re kids we all start off painting on ourselves and getting glue everywhere. Some people just don’t stop painting on themselves and getting glue everywhere.

WHERE do you draw inspiration from?The work of artists that is intricately, painstakingly handmade, or the work of artists that is quietly absurd. I like the dry humour of absurd situations being presented in an everyday, unquestioning way. I’d say I also find inspiration in making and doing things just for the sake of it – drawing and painting and sewing things that you wouldn’t want to put on display, but that can make you aware of techniques and shapes and ideas that you’re unconsciously drawn to.

WHY do you create?I create things because I love the process of making, and I love the idea that a finished piece is the embodiment of the hours and effort spent on it. I’ve had a few suggestions that I should get my paper works done by a laser-cutter because it would be easier and I could get them made so much quicker, but then there would be no fun in it! I would have no urge to make the work in the first place. There’s no better feeling than knowing you made something with your own hands.

How does the magic happen – creative process or candid creativity?Ideas for works often come in moments of candid creativity, but this is usually followed by a process of planning, researching, and testing out what works and what doesn’t. I would definitely describe my paper-cutting works as being very process based.

Plans for 2013?Travel! I’m very excited to be visiting Finland this year, where my dad grew up. I hope to be able to make some work there. I’m taking a year or two off before going back to uni, so I’ll be working on lots of new things! Particularly more paper-cut photographs.